World Football Thread XIX: Capello to the Rescue!

[Cort Haus]

2-0 to The Arsenal in the San Siro.



Cesc
Theo

[Maquiladora]

Milan were rubbish though. I thought Pato would do better when he came into the first team, but it appears he's just not ready for the big games yet.

[Cort Haus]

I was expecting better from Meelan, but I don't think that's the only reason for Cesc having his best game since November. When he flies, the team soar with him, and his magic has been missed.

The officials didn't have a great game though. Hleb should never have been booked after being fouled on the edge of the box, and Eboue wasn't offside when through for the square ball and tap-in at the end of the first half.

Who have your lot got on Thursday, Maq?

A Spurs v Everton final in the UEFA Cup would be interesting.

[Maquiladora]

Spurs are home to West Haaaaym on Sunday.

Fiorentina (4th Serie A) looks tough for Everton but not impossible, PSV (top Eredivisie by 6pts) appears to be a much harder game for us though.

[Cort Haus]

PSV looked very tidy in the first leg. There could have been a few more goals at either end, though.

[Maquiladora]

Their defence was tight most of the time, but Spurs were passing it sloppily tonight, I'm surprised we created the chances we did. Still we had more possession and created more chances though.

I fancy us to score away if we can pass better in the 2nd leg, I wouldn't bet on us keeping a clean sheet though...

[Cort Haus]

"Play up, Pompey. Pompey, Play Up!!"

[Krill]

Oh my ****ing god.

I love Barnsley so much I'm almost willing to live there.

[classical_hero]

This is a shocking tournament for teams from the Premier league, since only one team has made this far, but now that ManU are out, I want Barnsley to win.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by classical_hero
This is a shocking tournament for teams from the Premier league, since only one team has made this far, but now that ManU are out, I want Barnsley to win.

I also want Barnsley to win, they deserve it now.

It's a shame they're playing both semi-finals at Wembley though, I suppose to pay for the stadium.

[Cort Haus]

What I can't understand is how, if the top Premiership sides do well in the FA Cup they are killing the competition by dominating it, and if they don't do well, they are killing the competition by not taking it seriously enough.

I expect this all proves one thing - people like whining.

[Maquiladora]

Originally posted by Cort Haus
What I can't understand is how, if the top Premiership sides do well in the FA Cup they are killing the competition by dominating it, and if they don't do well, they are killing the competition by not taking it seriously enough.

I expect this all proves one thing - people like whining.

I haven't seen anyone suggest PL teams aren't taking it seriously this year. ?

[Thedrin]

The only thing that reduced the FA Cup's stature over the last 10-15 years was the change in the structure of European tournaments. The demise of the Cup Winners Cup and the awarding of multiple Champions League spots to teams based on league position reduced the FA Cup down to the level of the League Cup - finishing fourth in the Premiership is better than winning the FA Cup whereas previously it was only second to being Champions.

Platini's suggestion is the best one for making it as glorious as it once was. If the FA were serious about making the competition as important as it once was they'd be giving one of their Champions League spots to the winner.

[Maquiladora]

You only need to win 6 games (as a Premier League team) for the FA Cup though, compared to the league thats by far the easier route. A CL spot for the FA Cup winners possibly wouldn't see the best/biggest teams there either, which is not what UEFA want at all.

It's the CL that is the joke anyway, theres at least 16 teams too many in it already.

[MOBIUS]

Come on Cardiff!

Though it's a bit ironic and sad that the finals aren't being played here anymore...